Cruise Terminology

Embarkation: Getting onto the ship for the first time during your cruise.

Disembarkation: means getting off the ship at the end of the cruise.

Port: Left side of the ship as you face forward.

Starboard: Right side of the ship as you face forward.

Aft: Back of the ship

Midship: Middle of the ship

Bow: Front of the ship

Forward: Front of the ship

Leeward: the side of the ship that is sheltered from the wind.

EMuster or Muster Drill: Safety drill required of all cruises prior to sailing. It must be completed by all passengers.

Gangway: The opening(s) in the ship through which passengers may board.

Knot: A unit of speed. One knot is one nautical mile per hour, or 1.15 land miles per hour.

Lindsey Markwood standing by the wake onboard Scarlet Lady

Wake: The visible track of turbulence caused by a ship's movement in water

Shiptime: The time onboard the ship. Shiptime may be different than the current time zone the ship is in.

Shoretime: The time at the port/destination.

Tender: . A smaller ship, a tender will ferry passangers between the cruise ship and the port as the cruise ship is not docked at the port.

Bridge: This is where the captain and their crew steer the cruise ship.

Fleet: All the ships within the same company.

Funnel: The ship's smoke stack. You can sometimes see the ship's logo on there.

Maiden Voyage: the first time a cruise ship sails